Business of Art and Design: Faculty

Simmons College (Nutrition/Child Development); Boston University (Corporate Finance); Columbia University School of Public Health (Policy/Strategic Planning); Framingham State College (Applied Biochemistry).

Christine is a seasoned executive, holding the office of CEO for three tech and one service firm. During these tenures, she attracted funding through private placement offerings. She held executive management positions at Alexander & Alexander, an international insurance brokerage and risk management firm, and US Trust, where she was an institutional banking officer with asset management and lending authority.

In 2004 she designed and planned the Miami Center for Innovation and Commercialization (Miami University, Ohio, USA). She was recruited to start-up three software companies in Tanzania. Completing a transition to local management, in 2008 she led an international team to start-up and build Africa Biofuel & Emissions Reduction (EA) Ltd. Under her direction, the company received 6 international awards and took leadership in the African Biofuel Industry.

Wanda Chaves, B.A., M.A., Ph.D.

University of Tampa (Psychology/French; Minor - English & Literature); University of South Florida (Industrial Organizational Psychology); University of South Florida (Industrial Organizational Psychology).

Dr. Chaves has taught as a full time professor of management for many years and specializes in creativity, leadership, international management, human resource management, and organizational behavior. She worked in several departments within the Walt Disney World Company: Training and Development; Organization Development; Executive Development; and at the Disney Institute as a curriculum designer of executive retreats. She has also worked with the Casting and Performance Department at Cirque du Soleil in Montreal, Canada, to develop a new Innovation Strategy and creativity practices to support the evolution and future direction of the company. Wanda has been a consultant on many organization improvement projects within highly diverse organizations. Her clients include Boeing Commercial Airlines, Deutsche Bank Private Banking Latin America; Pricewaterhouse Coopers in Tel Aviv, Israel; EuroCredit Bank in St. Petersburg, Russia; FARO Technology, Tervis Tumbler; and Sensus Metering Systems Orlando.

Wanda has also developed a broad range of creative projects with organizations such as Cirque du Soleil, Microsoft Game Studios, MTV, HASBRO Toys, and the ELISAVA School of Design and Engineering in Barcelona, Spain. She is the Founder of The CREO Institute and teaches creativity workshops in different countries to assist individuals in developing their creative potential in order to achieve better, more fulfilling lives for themselves and others.

James Krause, B.A., M.S., D.B.A.

Walsh College of Accountancy, Troy, MI (Accountancy); Walsh College of Accountancy, Troy, MI (Professional Accountancy); Nova Southeastern University, Ft. Lauderdale, FL (Business Administration, Finance & Accounting). Dr. Krause served as chair of the Accounting Department at the University of Tampa, where he taught for 23 years. In addition to teaching courses at the undergraduate level, he also has experience in developing curricula, including new degree programs at the graduate level. Dr. Krause has been recognized five times since 1994 as Teacher of the Year by the undergraduate and graduate students in the College of Business.

Long Term Part-time Faculty

Rakefet Bachur, B.A., M.S.

The College of Management, School of Media Studies, Tel Aviv, Israel (Media and Management); University of Tampa, John H. Sykes School of Business (Marketing). Ms. Bachur has ten years of work experience as a marketing professional in the U.S, Europe and the Middle East. She is currently employed by BayCare Health System, a Florida-based health care services company, and is a member of the company's strategic marketing planning team. Rakefet is bi-lingual and is involved locally in projects promoting corporate social responsibility and environmental sustainability.

University of Pennsylvania (Art History); George Washington University (Art History; Minor - Museum Studies). Graduate of Museum Management Institute at University of California at Berkeley. Mark was Director of the Center for the Fine Arts, Miami, Deputy Director for Collections & Programs and Senior Curator at John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art. He has over 25 years of professional experience in museum management, museum studies, and as an art historian and curator. Mark is author, editor and contributor of art criticism, catalogue essays and monographs on contemporary art and architecture. In addition to teaching courses about the business of contemporary fine arts and the curatorial role of the independent artist, Mark oversees and directs the activities and operations of Crossley Gallery and supports satellite exhibition venues.

Adjunct Faculty

Robert Barnwell, B.A., M.B.A.

Georgetown University (Liberal Arts - International Economics and Foreign Affairs); New York University (Multinational Business Administration). Robert Barnwell is the author of Guerilla Film Marketing: The Ultimate Guide to the Branding, Marketing and Promotion of Independent Films & Filmmakers (2015, Focal Press.) As a member of Ringling’s Business of Art & Design (BOAD) faculty, he teaches business-related art and design courses focused on such subjects as: competitive strategy; strategy execution and implementation (project management and personal productivity); and branding, marketing and promotion.

In addition to his role at Ringling College, Robert is the founder of Subic Bay Films where he is working toward the development of a new business model for low-budget independent film production and distribution. His current slate of film projects includes three short films, Special Operations Group: Salvation, Special Operations Group: Retribution, and Special Operations Group: Evolution.

Robert worked as a corporate banker and strategy consultant for large multinational clients in a variety of business and industries, including: film production, movie theaters, and television and cable broadcasters among others.